Finding Nemo

Clara loved the pet store and seeing all of the kittens, birds, fish, and even a hopping chinchilla! Like all children in the past five years, Clara chose the name Nemo for her new fish friend. She was very excited to see him swimming around and "hiding" under his plant. We're wishing Nemo the best for a long fish life!

After the excitement of settling Nemo into his new home, they enjoyed a snack together.

First Tricycle

Chris is home from his week long business trip, and first thing after breakfast, he put together Clara's new Schwinn Classic Tricycle. She was so excited to see it put together after having seen the box sitting there all week. She was dancing around and helping Daddy lay out the parts. Bunny of course got the first ride, but Clara soon took her first turn. We'll need to work on using the pedals, but for now she is pushing herself along and practicing steering. She loves the streamers and the bell the most. With the rainy weekend ahead of us, we're sticking to the basement, but more pictures will follow when the trike gets it's first road/sidewalk test.

Birthday Collage

We had a wonderful celebration on Sunday for Clara's birthday. She received so many thoughtful and generous gifts. She loved playing with her balloons that Daddy and Grandpop picked out. She blew out the candle on her princess cake all on her own! Taking formal portraits with a curious 2 year old proved to be a little more difficult than we anticipated, but we got a nice peek-a-boo shot of her in her "Sweeter than Chocolate" outfit.

Happy 2nd Birthday Clara!

Clara has grown tremendously over the last two years, but particularly in the last six months as her speech has improved. She has such personality, an incredible intellect, and right now we are enjoying every minute with her. We love to go star gazing in her room at night thanks to the ladybug star maker; evening walks to find the moon and stars; moments of fun with tea parties, house parties, puzzles, coloring, books, elephant game time, and silly marches around the room. She loves to "talk flowers", is very much into being a big girl, sits wonderfully at restaurants, pretends to shop at target and go to Starbucks. She wants to read to us at night, but she still wants a suggle and for mommy to sing "Manger Song" and "Twinkle Stars."

What a gift she is!

An Outing

Clara was wearing a back and red outfit for the afternoon, so she wore her pretty coat for our errands to the bookstore and the mall. She definitely felt very pretty and ladylike in her hat and "softy" fur.